Effective April 1st the club will be raising the rates for our Junior Programs – especially our non-member rates.

If you would like to buy multiple 8 packs of lessons before that date, you will save money.

For example:

• Jr Stars is $136 but will become $160
• Jr Aces is $150 but will become $175
• Jr Challengers and Jr Excellence are $250 but will become $290

We have not raised our prices in over 8 years and the rate increase is not substantial, however, if you would like to save substantially you can purchase multiple 8 packs — as many as you want before the April 1st increase.

Deadline date is March 27^th.

Thank you so much for your continued support.  Al, Reno, David, Jesse and I appreciate working with you family.

Ken DeHart
Director of Tennis SJSRC
PTR & USPTA Master Professional
www.kendeharttennis.com

Attended the Wilson Advisory Staff meeting, hosted by Cy, Erica, Evan & Steve.  They were awesome, we got to see the new line of product and the new marketing campaign for the year.  Great new clothing line, shoes and racquets.  They have many pros now on tour who are in Wilson clothes, shoes and frames.  Wilson is #1 in about every category that is measured.

Played the mxd finals – 55′s with SJSRC Staff Member – Liz Westergren and we were the champions, winning the finals 7-5 6-4.  Good week for me, semis in singles, finalist in doubles and mxd champion.  Liz also won the ladies doubles with my good friend Carol Conidi.

Introduced two speakers – Chuck Kriese, a Coaching Hall of Famer and Julio from Mississippi on “Hand Feeding Drills” – in the correct progression.  Kameron was the on-court demonstrator for Julio for an hour.  He got to play about 3 hours today and has been a big hit with all the pros because of his energy, smile and out-going personality.

Got to spend some time with Will from FuzzyYellowTennisBalls website, talked to pros about my new release thru TennisOne.com – “Tune Up Your Game” for club players and the pro version.  Renewed tons of long time friendships with pros from all around the world and lots of pictures to help me remember then until next time.

We next visited the PTR dinner, dance and casino night.  Thanks to Kam’s advice, I won $60,000 on the roulette table – in play money.  I have no idea how to play – I just followed his suggestions.  Kam went to the 21 table to give advice to a lady pro from Hungary.  He danced to all the good song by the DJ and danced with several of the female pros.  I got to dance 1 dance with Anni Miller – my long time friend and fellow Master Professional.

Cardio Tennis in  the morning and some tennis before we head to the airport and back to SJ by 11PM.  Good week, lots of friends from around the world and great week with my son.

See you soon,

Some really great presentations today – growing your tennis business, player development, character and leadership for coaches, 12 month marketing plan, conditioning for tennis, etc.  They also opened the trade show this morning.  Wilson with it’s new line of racquet, shoes and clothing is a leader.  There were booths by court builders, all the major racquet companies, software companies, tennis supply companies, resorts and sports medicine.

The tournament continued for all the divisions Open thru 70′s.  My partner – Liz Westergren from the SJSRC club and I won our mixed semi finals 7-6 7-5 in a wind storm, later my partner from Colorado, we were the #2 seeds lost to the #1 seeds in a good match and pretty nice conditions with a big crowd watching from China, Italy, Romania, England and the US.  Gary, from Colorado and I played well but lost to the player who has won the event the last 11 years in a row – in 55 doubles.

Liz Westergren from the club and another lady, Carol Conidi, whom I got into teaching from Fremont won the ladies 50 doubles. Liz and I play the mixed doubles finals on Monday.  So semi’s in singles, finals of doulbes and mxd – not too bad for as little as I get to play these days.

Kameron continued to play about 5 hours a day with other tennis pro kids all day.  He posed with the Wilson exhibit at the trade show because he had on all Wilson apparel today.  They have a life-size poster of me at the Rock Tape booth – Kineso taping for athletes – so I got a picture of me – next to me.  Got to take lots of pictures with the international pros with me and me on the poster – seems funny?

Tomorrow is Cardio Tennis at 7-8 am, Wilson Advisory Staff meeting at 9, mixed doubles finals at 10:30 and a full day of seminars.  Topics include: sports psych for 10 and under kids, sliding on clay, helping players break out of the pack and hand fed drills to use with players.  There is a dinner and dance Monday night.  Kam loves to dance so I am sure we will be there for some time.

Home on Wed AM.

Orlando is flooded with the NBA All Star Game and the Daytona 500 plus our meetings.  No rooms anywhere, outrageous rental car rates and crazy traffic.

I have been attending educational workshops all week, playing matches and presenting to the more than 800-900 pros here from around the world.

Lost in the semis of singles to a player from Pakistan 5-7, 6-7 (10-12) and (8-10) in the 3rd set breaker.  I was not happy – lost 2 match points in the 2nd set tie breaker but did save 7 set points along the way.  Won the semis in doubles 6-3 6-4 finished under the lights and had to change to a lit court in the middle of my service game.
Play MXD with San Jose’s Liz Westergren tomorrow at 12 and the doubles finals at 6 pm.

Kameron has been hitting on the clay courts about 5-6 hours a day and been an on-court participant in many of the pros presentations – including mine.  He loves to play and has been a big hit with all the pros as he dutifully watches dad’s matches and looks for the next open court to hit on with anyone.  Playing with a 13 yr old from Sweden and a couple of other juniors who are here for the Symposium.  Great swimming pools, waterfalls and hot tubs here for him to enjoy, we rented paddle boats after my singles loss to help me get back into a livable attitude and played some chip & put golf.

51 speakers here for the Symposium on all kinds of topics from club management, drills, 10 & Under tennis, injury prevention and training all levels of players from 2.5 to 5.0 adults.  Our club’s junior program is a model for the tennis industry on how to maximize court space, provide quality customer service and generate revenue on limited court space.

2 of our staff pros are down here as well – David Crain and Leslie Johnson – attending workshops as well and improving their tennis education.  David is recovering from his recent motorcycle accident and walking well and making friends in his normal out-going manner.

Leslie Johnson, who works with Al in our red and orange ball program was selected USTA NorCal Volunteer of the Year and Al Juodikis was selected NorCal USPTA’s Associate Pro of the Year.  Congrats to both who do an amazing job with our juniors at the club.  Our junior program for the young kids has been a leader for all the clubs in San Jose.

Always look forward to returning back to San Jose to implement some of the ideas we get from our continuing education opportunities at these meetings of the top pros in the nation – actually internationally.

See you soon,

From life or sports, I evaluate 3 things:

1. Where am I now.
2. How long have I been there.
3.  Where do I want to be.

Before I start the 3rd set or the next year, I try to ask these 3 questions:

1. What did I do best this last year or the last set?
2. What mistakes did I make that were costly?
3. Based upon that information – how will I play the next set or the next year?

I know I can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results – that is the cause of insanity.

I wish you a great 3rd set and a Happy New Year and I hope all your matches lead you to success.

Most importantly – enjoy the process.

All the best,
Ken DeHart

Photo Credits: Eustaquio Santimano

I like the hustle and energy in the way people walk and talk.

I like the excitement of young children talking about what could be.

I like thinking about others – what gift I might give them.  It reminds me of how different and special are all my friends.

I like the lights on peoples houses and the tree with all the decorations inside our home.

I like the day when few people work and they share time with each other, relatives and friends.

The season comes and goes so quick – I hope the memories last forever.

Merry Christmas from Ken, Karen & Kameron!

Photo Credits: foxrosser

Get your Holiday Shopping done now….

20% off all merchandise in the Pro Shop

at San Jose Swim & Racquet Club

Racquets – Shoes Tennis & Bags in inventory-Thru December 31st

 Get your Christmas shopping done NOW

 Ken’s Private Lesson Christmas Special

Discounted 4 pack of lessons

With Ken –   Members $256/Reg $320 – Fitness Members $250/Reg $340 – Non-members $265/Reg$352

With Reno, Trish, Al, David – Members $210/Reg $280, Fitness Members $225/Reg $300
- Non-Members $235/Reg $312

Gift Certificates make great Christmas Gifts……

*All lesson packages must be used by July 2012

If you have thought about joining or have friends who would like to become members – this is the time!

You would only have the monthly dues for a tennis membership that includes the swimming – fitness – tennis:

• Single ($125)
• Couple ($165)
• Family ($185)  

The fees for tennis programs are less than for a non-member plus you get to be with lots of others who love to play tennis. 

GREAT FAMILY GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Beside that… I would love to have you at the club.

I will be glad to help you if you would like to join us…..

More Good News...

PS  Want to see the tennis court conditions when we have had rain, want to see 2 years of FREE tennis tips, DVD’s on Tennis – go to my website www.kendeharttennis.com.

• Click on WebCam to see the court conditions – password and login in is “Tennis” for both
• Click on “In the game blog” to see the FREE tennis Tips
• Want to buy a DVD – contact me directly and save $9 plus shipping and handling.
• Got tennis questions – email me and I will respond that day
• Check out our drop in clinic schedule – there are programs most every day – great way to get in the game this season!

Happy Holidays to you!